13 September 11th Books for Kids
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It can be difficult to know how to teach September 11th to kids. The attacks were tragic events and many adults have memories of the day that range from unpleasant to absolutely terrifying. We don’t want to pass those feelings down to our children, but kids should know the history surrounding the day.
Children’s books to the rescue.
Books can be a wonderful way to teach about difficult topics and horrific real events because they can offer a little distance and take some of the emotions out of it. They also offer stories and perspectives of the terrorist attacks that might be slightly different from our own.
These September 11th books for kids would be great as read-alouds in the days leading up to Patriot Day (anniversary of 9/11/2001) or as American history lessons.
September 11th Books for Kids
National Geographic Readers: September 11 by Libby Romero
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
National Geographic always produces high-quality nonfiction texts, and this book is no exception. Children are given all of the factual details as concisely as possible. They will read about the shocking attack, the rescue efforts, how dogs were used in the rescue attempts, and how communities banded together.
One thing I really like about this September 11th book for kids is the pictorial glossary. The glossary uses photographs as well as text definitions to make sure kids really understand the vocabulary.
I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This graphic novel tells the fictional story of a boy who witnesses the attack on the Twin Towers when he went to the city on the morning of September 11th to visit a family friend. Graphic novels are a great option for kids who might not be fans of traditional books.
Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Towers Falling is a unique September 11th book because it is set in 2016, 15 years after the attack. The main characters live in New York City but are too young to remember the horrific events. They learn about the events of September 11th with their classmates while also discussing and unpacking the memories of family members.
Seven and a Half Tons of Steel: A Post 9/11 Story of Hope and Transformation by Janet Nolan
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I had never really thought about what happened to all of the Twin Towers construction material until I discovered this book. Apparently, over 200,000 tons were sold as scrap metal, 7.5 tons of which were used in constructing the USS New York.
This picture book begins by briefly explaining the attack on the Twin Towers and the significance of Ground Zero. It quickly moves on to a story of how one huge steel beam from one of the Twin Towers was transformed into the bow of a Navy ship named the USS New York.
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This beautiful picture book tells a true story of kindness and empathy. Nine months after the horrible events of September 11th, the Maasai tribe of Western Kenya presented 14 cows to an American diplomat. They wanted to help the United States heal our grief by giving us something important, and cows are extremely important to the Maasai.
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Robin
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This September 11th picture book is unique because it is told from the perspective of a tree. A Callery pear tree was planted in the plaza between the Twin Towers when they were originally constructed. It was assumed that this tree was destroyed during the 9/11 attack, but a month later first responders discovered that the tree was still standing. It became a symbol of resilience.
30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag by Amanda Davis
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
An American flag was hung over Ground Zero until it became too tattered to remain. It was taken down, stored, and likely forgotten until a group of volunteers offered to help Kansas rebuild after a tornado. They brought the threadbare flag with them. People began to repair the flag as they rebuilt the town. It has become a symbol of a community working together to repair something important.
Nine, Ten: A September 11th Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This chapter book is a little different than the others because it follows 4 kids in the days leading up to the 9/11 attacks. That gives the reader an eerie feeling because we have a good idea of what will happen. This might help older kids truly understand that the people impacted didn’t know what was coming their way. They were just regular people going about their lives until they were forever changed.
The Man in the Red Bandanna by Honor Crowther Fagan
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is the story of Welles Crowther, the man in the red bandanna. He was working in the World Trade Center’s South Tower when the plane struck the building. He saw that people were scared, and he helped them get to safety, using a red bandana to cover his mouth and nose. Welles returned to the 76th floor several times to help people escape but unfortunately did not make it out himself. Welles Crowther was a true hero.
Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
After tragedy struck on September 11th, New Yorkers were desperate to evacuate. Many people tried to leave via car or train. Some people walked across the bridge, out of the city. Others were stuck in the city until the boats began arriving.
Captains of ferries, tugboats, and personal yachts came to the rescue. They quickly showed up to help evacuate the city and get people to safety.
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book contains a story within the story. The main story and illustrations tell about the 9/11 attacks and the survivor tree. There is a small square in each frame that shows a girl. At first, she is too young to understand what is going on. By the end of the book, she is an adult and has become a first responder firefighter just like her uncle.
September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be Alright by Masterson Elementary School
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I began teaching kindergarten in 2003. At that time, there were not very many September 11th books for young children available. However, this book was available and perfect for my kindergarten class. The book shows that we all had a bad day, but the next day the sun still rose. We still had community helpers. Everything was going to be okay. I think that is an important message for little ones to understand anytime we are talking about something scary.
Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember by Jacqueline Jules
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book was written by a school librarian and teacher working in Arlington, VA, during the September 11th attacks. The poems explain to children what it was like to be a school child in Northern Virginia on that tragic day.
Add these titles to your September book list.
Need September 11th lesson plan ideas? Check out the National September 11th Memorial Museum website. They offer lesson plans, activities you can do at home, and digital exhibitions.
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